dudes, I would be in GREAT shape. As it were, I’m not in any kind of shape these days. Did you see what Rachael’s doing? The 100 Miles by April 1st thing? Yeah, I’m not signing on per se, but let’s just say I strapped the girls down into my new sports bra and headed out on the trail today. I’m not making any resolutions here – I’m more in the MamaCate camp in that regard. The older I get the nicer I try to be to myself – if I make a resolution it’s kind of like setting yourself up for failure. So I’m making an INTENTION. My goal is to be running at least 20 minutes straight by April 1. I’m doing a ten week beginning runners program and I’ve given myself about a three week cushion. I should be able to do it. But all I can do is my best.
Along with running comes trying to live healthier. Baby steps though – once the running gets back into habit mode the rest may just fall into place (eating better, sleeping better, all of that.) At the least I’m going to try to be more conscious about my health. I want to feel good – I don’t really care what I look like to be honest. Would I like to lose fifteen pounds? Sure I would but more than that I’d like to be comfortable in the clothes I already own and feel better – have more energy – get rid of some aches and pains that have been creeping in along with the years. Blah blah blah. Same as everyone else, I suppose.
The birthday was grand in that it was a total nonevent. It may seem oxymoronic but having such a big birthday (I mean, who are we kidding? The whole WORLD celebrates it!), which I love, don’t get me wrong, puts just a tad bit of pressure on you. Because of that I like my birthday to be sort of normal. Which it was. In totally normal fashion, I ran some errands, got a headache from the rain, knit on my socks, watched some decent movies and cuddled with my honey and really that’s all I can ask. And of course I was treated to wonderful birthday greetings from all of you every time I sat down at the computer! Thank you for making the day so special, but not overwhelming in any way. 😉
Speaking of socks, here’s how the G-Rocks January One socks are progressing:
I continue to love the stripey goodness and I can totally see the advantage to doing two socks at the same time. Because when you’re done – you’ll have a PAIR of socks. It does seem to be going quite slow and I’m a little bit daunted by the fact that when I’m done I will have one of each pair, but I love this yarn so much that it doesn’t really matter. It always surprises me when I haven’t knit with Socks That Rock for awhile and then go back to it how soft and wonderful this yarn is – FOR ME. Others might not have the same opinion but I do love this yarn and often times wonder why I knit with anything else.
Now I need your help with a problem. I bought these new fantastic shoes – Dansko Camilla in Black Oiled Leather – and they’re super cute, feel good and show off my socks spectacularly. BUT when I wore them the other day I noticed that the edge of the lip rubbed against my socks in a very bad way. Here are some pictures to illustrate:
You see, I had a lot of fuzziness/pilling/whatever at the edge of my heel – right where you start to turn the heel on the sock. When I got home, I shaved it down a little bit and it looks fine now, but I’m afraid this will wear my socks out really fast. I could leave the pilling, but it doesn’t look so pretty – or I could not wear handknit socks with these shoes (not really an option since these are the only socks I have now) or I could hope that with wear the shoes will stretch and relax and the back won’t cause pilling. The shoes are absolutely the right size. And there’s nothing really sticking out or anything on the lip – nothing that I could sand down or some solution like that. Anybody have these shoes, or shoes like them and have any suggestions? I have enough socks to alternate a lot so that I’m not wearing down the same socks over and over, but still – I don’t want to unnecessarily makes them wear out faster. Thanks for the ideas.
Thank you again for all of your good wishes – birthday, holiday, health-wise – over the past few weeks. They have meant more than you can know and as always I thank you so much for spending some of your valuable time here with me. I wish all good things for all of us in the new year!
I once had a pair of shoes with some sort of scratchy “thingy” on the inside of the heel that rubbed my ankle and was extremely annoying. I couldn’t SEE anything, though. I took it to a shoe repair shop, and the woman put the shoe down on a hard surface, then took this giant hammer and hammered the heck out of the offending spot. Eventually, whatever that “thingy” was, it got buried in the leather and I never had the scratchiness again. Maybe that would help.
A good shoe repair shop should be able to tell you your options. They might have an in-house person that would be able to remove the offending piece without ruining the style of the shoe. Good luck!
I bought a pair of Dansko clogs for the exact same reason — to show off my handknit socks (what a sad bunch we are, no?). Mine are a different style (Mary Jane) but they too rubbed on the heel and my sock pilled. My solution: to wear the shoe tighter and thus no rubbing and no pilling. I don’t suppose your shoes have that option?
Maybe once the shoe is really broken in that back part of the leather will be softer and a little more forgiving?
Happy belated birthday.
Katia
No help with the shoe… I’m terrible at wearing out socks, so I don’t knit socks for myself.
I am thinking about the hundred miles thingy. Could be done… Hmmm, I’ll continue to think about this, but that’s all I’ll pledge right now!
I’m glad you enjoyed your birthday!
The sockie pair was made in heaven;-) I’m in on the 100 mile thingy.
You are right on target on intentions versus resolutions and just generally wanting to make sure you feel good. It always seems like when I feel good, I’m better at dealing with the world around me and being a better person, etc. Good luck with the running program!
What about wearing the shoes around the house for a few days with some thick socks on? Maybe that would be enough to stretch them so it does not rub there anymore? I like the shoe repair shop options left by someone else though! Good luck!
How do you like that new bra? I want to run more this year, but I haven’t yet found the bra that lets me run more than a sprint without pain.
The shoes are super cute. I have a pair with a similar heel design, and I had to stretch the leather on the backs out a bit before they stopped rubbing.
So how do you like knitting the 2 at once with both yarns hanging there? Is it a pain or ???
How about a small strip of moleskin on the shoe? Maybe it would grip the sock enough that it wouldn’t rub, but it would be soft on the yarn. Good luck with the running. I destroyed my knees as a preteen and teen, so no running for me, but I’ll probably be doing the 100 miles walking. Or maybe biking. Or maybe both!
How do you knit 2 socks on one (is it one?) circular needle? Any suggestions as to where I could find out how to do this?
Cara, the same thing happened to my grandmother’s handknit sock (see link – but only if u have a strong stomach):
http://black-dog-knits.blogspot.com/2006/08/there-are-no-words.html .
Alternatively, you could try heel-grips. (I don’t know what you guys call them over there.) They adhere to the heel of the shoe.
Happy belated birthday! (Sorry I’m late, still recovering from my own holiday.) It sounds like you had a wonderful time.
New Years is truly the best birthday ever.
I also agree on the INTENTION thing. Why set yourself up for failure, right?
I had the same problem with a pair of handknit socks and a pair of clogs. They wore out in a few months, which is absurd. By wore out, I mean a huge gaping hole in each heel.
Maybe you could duplicate stitch over the vulnerable sock area so it is a double thickness. Doesn’t solve the wear problem, but at least they might last longer! Happy belated birthday, and good for you for getting moving!
I’ll have to check out the 100 mile thing. I’m making an effort to eat better and exercise more because I want to feel better too. Plus, the stress is really getting to me. I would say that you should try to break that piece of leather in a bit. Maybe some leather conditioner would soften it up so it wouldn’t rub.
I thought of you this morning as I bought my 2007 Rockin’ Sock Club membership. Then I come over here and realize thanks to the pictures that I will need a pair of Mary Janes to show off all the socky goodness that I will be knitting this year. Or perhaps some clogs. It’s always something, isn’t it?
Pshaw! You have sixty thousand pairs of handknit socks. Surely you can wear them each for one day and then THROW THEM OUT. Don’t worry about them wearing out. Life’s too short. 🙂
Happy Birthday. Thank-you for instigating the healthy new year plan. It almost makes me cry. I was just writing in my journal that I need someone to help motivate me. I was a Weight Watchers leader before an illness and surgery. They dropped me when I couldn’t give them a recovery date. I need to get back to sensible eating. I’m trying to unwrap the bad connotations. I need to focus some of that good motivation on myself. Thanks for the reason.
Happy Belated Birthday!
I love that Intention vs Resolutions. Much kinder.
After spending some of my misspent youth in a shoe store, breaking in the back of the heel is your best bet. We used to bend the offending part of the shoe back and forth after stretching it out on a broomhandle. Once the leather softens up, it should stop being so hard on your socks.
Why not try some saddle soap. I know the leather seems very soft but not really broken in. Saddle soap will soften and the lanolin oil will help the leather. Maybe if rushing “the breaking in period” will be the saving result on your beautiful socks!
Happy Birthday, Cara 🙂 Hope it was super fantastic, and I love all your socks!
I’ll be rooting you on for your 20 minutes of continuous running, hey – if I can do it, so can you 😀 Never thought it would happen, but now I’ve gone from not being able to run much more than a block without getting tired to training for a 5k race and now I’ve got 2 longer races booked for the spring!
ps. Caffeine free Dr Pepper? Awesome!
Norma’s suggestion seems the most practical. Seriously for the future, maybe knit the heels with a second strand of something reinforcing, yet lightweight. I’ve never tried it myself but it was suggested to me when I noticed my socks getting pill-y fast from my favorite shoes. Happy 2007, and birthday too, by the way.
Late to the party, HAPPY BIRTHDAY.
If there is no rough spot, you can either take the shoes to a shoe repair to be stretched/flattened in the back or do it yourself with a meat mallet. Since they are Dansko, I probably would go the shoe repair route but it can be done they cause that silly back lip that is just for looks anyway to stretch and therefore, QUIT damaging socks. Been there and have had to do this.
Happy birthday a day late.
As for the shoe issue, take a shoe horn and some shoe stretch liquid (they sell in at any decent shoe repair place). Wet the shoe with the liquid and then use the horn to rub really hard on the offending area, stretching out from the back of the shoe. Alternatively, you could have a shoe repair place do it, but I like the precision of doing it myself when it’s only one small area.
You inspire me. I think I’m having a New Year’s Intention epiphany.
For what it’s worth…I had a shoemaker tell me once to use equal parts water and rubbing alcohol to wet the part of the shoe that needs softening/breaking in, then pull and rub the leather to stretch it out. I googled it and found that method echoed by a custom bootmaker and a leather conservator in the UK.
I was out of town for the Holiday, so I’m late in wishing you a happy birthday. It sounds like it was all you wanted in a birthday, and I’m happy for you! Best wishes for a fantastic, healthy New Year for both you and your Love!
I had a pair of shoes doing the same thing – or maybe a bit worse, actually: anytime I’d wear it, I’d have the back of one of my heels bleeding within minutes! I’ve bought heel liners (http://www.drscholls.com/product.aspx?prodid=32) to put in these shoes, and the problem was solved.
Happy Birthday from one January baby to another!!!
I wear Dansko’s everyday at work and love them. They will stretch out some with time. My latest pair took about two months to break in but I LOVE them. It is sad however that I am unable to wear handknit socks with them. (I work in surgery and I love my socks too much to risk them in that environment)
Another thing about Dansko’s is that the color will rub off on your socks so be careful. All of my work socks are pink and black now from my fuschia and black clogs.
I have had several pairs of Danksos in my life thus far and have had some rub in that spot (though not that exact style.) Eventually they stop, but my solution until then has always been to stick a small piece of moleskin on the offending spot of the shoe. Hopefully that’ll help you too.
Happy Birthday!
Shoe repair shop! You’re the expert in making socks-they fix the shoes! Glad your birthday was great!
I may be repeating what others have said, but I’ve been wearing Dansko clogs (the closed back ones, in different styles) for many years now. I have only recently (in the last few weeks) noticed the wearing on my socks. Almost all of my wool socks are worn to threads in the heel. (Fortunately for me, I am not a sock knitter–these are store bought socks.) I am convinced it is from the sliding motion natural to clog-wearing. Judging by the arrows in your photo, the shoe is wearing in the same area, though your clogs have a lip, not a full back. I wonder if that would make the problem better or worse. I wish I had a solution for you.
Best of luck!
ok, I gotta ask: headache from the rain?? Really? Is that a regular thing? Interesting!
Love the stripey goodness 🙂
Hi, I’m new to this knitbloggy goodness, but I saw it here first, and am going to walk the 100 miles.
I read through your archives, and wish I had found you sooner, to give you well wishes throughout the process, but better late than never, eh? 🙂 Here’s lots of good wishes for 2007 for you and G.
I use Queen Kahuna’s Crazy Toes & Heels method of continuing the slip stitch heel pattern through the heel turn to make my socks more durable. It seems to improve the fit around the heel as well so it’s a double win.
Love the socks – I have a pair of Ariat clogs (they come from Tractor Supply Company – modeled on very comfy boots) that did the same thing – I wore them around the house for a week or two with NO socks and it stretched them out so now they don’t wear on my socks and are actually more comfortable.
THAT said – with your shoes, I’d probably go for the shoe shop – mine don’t really have a lip and you’ll probably be surprised that it’s not particularly expensive to let a professional do it right the first time.
BTW – I just finished a pair of socks on 2-circs – 1) hated the slowness of it and 2) it was kinda “fussy” when you get to the picking up stitches/gusset part. Not sure I’d do again. I was actually tempted to take them off at that point and do them on DPNs but I did manage and I’m certainly NOT near the sock-knitting-queen that you are!!
*sigh* I don’t think that I could wear shoes tight enough to eliminate wear and pilling. My socks end up felting a bit at the heels, which is probably a good thing. But I am resigned to eventually having to darn.
If your shoes fit perfectly, then I wouldn’t mess with them, but one suggestion would be to add an insole that would raise up your heel? The only other suggestion I have is for future socks – make the thicker slipped-stitch portion extend around your heel where there is extra wear.
Good luck!
Two words: reinforcing nylon. (you can buy it on the internet; some sock yarns used to come with it) Good luck!
I think that the rubbing may just be a bit of how Dansko’s are “supposed” to fit – you’re not supposed to put the heel grips in them to make them snug, they’re supposed to move up and down with every step.
That said, if it’s just one spot and it seems abnormal, I like the idea of letting the pros take a look at it… shoe repair shop all the way!
eep! could I be that winning Rachel? knock me over with a feather! alas and alack, I don’t have any email from you, even in the junk.
I’m new to this blog thing, and I just found yours. I’m going to walk the 100 miles too and I wsh you the best of luck with it.
Happy birthday for january one!
Hi Cara,
A belated Happy Birthday. I wanted to say that being good to yourself is a very good idea for you right now. You and G have been through a wringer.
When it came to getting into shape, I was best motivated by my mother’s advancing illness – I knew it wouldn’t be long before I would have to be able to lift her, so that’s what I worked toward. It gave me a whole new insight and motivation. When you do something hard like diet and exercise just so you look better, it’s harder to find satisfaction. When you are getting fit enough so you can do what you want to do in life, it’s a lot easier to keep at it. After all, that’s what it’s all about, being strong enough to feel good, so you can have as much of your days and nights the way you want them to be, so you can have the life you want to have.
Keep it up, Cara.
A way-belated happy birthday to you! Glad you spent it exactly how you wanted.
It’s unclear to me from your post whether you think this lip loosening up would stop the rubbing? If so, then the suggestions you’ve already gotten are excellent. If not, though, I’d try for the same approach I take with running blisters–don’t stop the rubbing, just make it as frictionless as possible. Inside my socks when I run, I use Vaseline. Maybe some kind of slick-surfaced adhesive on the back of the clog?
(I hope you work it out, because those are some fabulous shoes to show off your many fabulous socks!)